Snowbank Lake to Disappointment Lake Loop
Starts at EP 27 Snowbank Lake
- 3 days
- Duration
- Easy
- Difficulty
- 15 mi
- Total distance
- 13 mi
- Paddling
- 11
- Portages · 633 rods
About this route
The Snowbank Lake to Disappointment Lake loop route that begins and ends at Entry Point 27 (Snowbank Lake). From the large open water of Snowbank, the route threads south through a chain of small, connected lakes before reaching Disappointment Lake and returning to the entry point by way of Parent Lake.
The heart of this trip is the string of small wilderness lakes between Snowbank and Disappointment — Boot, Abinodji, Swing, Gibson, Cattyman, Adventure, Jitterbug, and Ahsub. These interconnected lakes are linked by a series of short portages and offer intimate, forested paddling with quiet waters and close shorelines. Disappointment Lake opens the route back up with longer stretches of open water and island-dotted views, while Snowbank and Parent bookend the loop with broader, more exposed paddling.
This route suits paddlers who enjoy variety and don't mind frequent portages. The many short carries make it a good fit for those comfortable moving canoe and gear over land regularly, and the mix of small lakes and open water offers flexibility in how far you travel each day. Campsites along Disappointment and Snowbank give options for setting your own pace over a multi-day trip.
Route Highlights
- Classic loop through the Snowbank and Disappointment lake country
- A chain of small, interconnected wilderness lakes
- Frequent short portages linking quiet, forested waters
- Flexible camping opportunities for a multi-day loop
Suggested itinerary
3 days at a steady pace.
Snowbank Lake → Ahsub Lake
Paddle out from the entry point and work south through the chain of small lakes — Boot, Abinodji, Swing, Gibson, Cattyman, Adventure, and Jitterbug — settling into the route's steady rhythm of short portages and quiet waters.
Ahsub Lake → Disappointment Lake
Continue to Disappointment Lake, where the route opens onto broader water and island-filled views. Take time to settle in and explore the lake's forested shoreline.
Disappointment Lake → Snowbank Lake
Close the loop by paddling through Parent Lake and back onto Snowbank, crossing open water to return to the entry point at Entry Point 27.
The portages
11 carries, 633 rods total.
| Portage | Rods | Climb |
|---|---|---|
| Snowbank Lake → Boot Lake difficult | 114 | +79 ft |
| Parent Lake → Snowbank Lake moderate | 110 | +7 ft |
| Disappointment Lake → Parent Lake moderate | 86 | +23 ft |
| Boot Lake → Abinodji Lake moderate | 73 | +131 ft |
| Adventure Lake → Jitterbug Lake moderate | 54 | +20 ft |
| Abinodji Lake → Swing Lake moderate | 53 | +82 ft |
| Swing Lake → Gibson Lake moderate | 41 | +10 ft |
| Gibson Lake → Cattyman Lake easy | 39 | +59 ft |
| Jitterbug Lake → Ahsub Lake easy | 31 | — |
| Ahsub Lake → Disappointment Lake easy | 23 | +29 ft |
| Cattyman Lake → Adventure Lake easy | 9 | +0 ft |
Lakes on this route
11 lakes, 30 campsites between them. Fish species recorded by the Minnesota DNR.
| Lake | Depth | Size | Campsites | Fish species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snowbank Lake | 150 ft | 4,655 ac | 10 | burbotcisco specieslake troutnorthern pikenorthern pike (silver phase)rock basssmallmouth basstullibee (cisco)walleyewhite suckeryellow perch |
| Boot Lake (2) | 83 ft | 197 ac | 2 | — |
| Abinodji Lake | 33 ft | 36 ac | 1 | — |
| Swing Lake | 13 ft | 12 ac | — | — |
| Gibson Lake | 24 ft | 33 ac | — | — |
| Cattyman Lake | 9 ft | 17 ac | — | — |
| Adventure Lake | 10 ft | 47 ac | — | — |
| Jitterbug Lake | 5 ft | 28 ac | — | — |
| Ahsub Lake | 78 ft | 60 ac | 2 | bluegillhybrid sunfishnorthern pikesmallmouth basswhite suckeryellow perch |
| Disappointment Lake | 54 ft | 894 ac | 13 | northern pikerock basssmallmouth basstullibee (cisco)walleyewhite sucker |
| Parent Lake | 50 ft | 451 ac | 2 | cisco speciesnorthern pikenorthern pike (silver phase)rock basssmallmouth basstullibee (cisco)walleyewhite suckeryellow perch |
More routes from EP 27
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